THE BEST GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE EVER

Congratulations – you have just found THE MOST AUTHENTIC, BEST GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE EVER! Easy to make and incredibly delicious, you can enjoy this recipe as a side to any dish or simply eat it by the spoonful!

Tzatziki, also known as Τζατζίκι in Greek (pronounced tsa-TSEE-kee) is the most famous Greek dip and is essential for every Greek meal. This recipe will make the Best Greek Tzatziki you have ever eaten in your life. This is one recipe that I don’t need to be humble about – it’s the best. What makes it so special? The simplicity of the ingredients, the method of preparation, and the 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil. I know, 60ml sounds like an extreme amount but trust me, it’s necessary.

If you’ve ever tried Tzatziki at a taverna in Greece, you’ll see that it’s nothing like the industrial ones you buy at the shops back home. Even when you find recipes online, it will never quite taste the same. This one will shock you with how easy it is to prepare and how tasty it is – it won’t even last a day in your home. You’ll want to eat it with anything you can get your hands on. Breadsticks, dry bread, grilled pita or bread, french fries, eggs, roasted vegetables, in pita souvlaki, with pork and other meats – these are all things Greek people eat with Tzatziki.

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON TIKTOK

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THE BEST GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE EVER

• Delicious – Words can’t describe how tasty this dip is. An authentic Tzatziki should be smooth and creamy, tangy, garlicky, and bursting with flavour with every spoon.
• Easy – The preparation time for this recipe is just a few minutes. You won’t believe how easy it is to make this – you’ll never buy store-bought ever again. There is less than 10 minutes of hands-on time to prepare the Best Tzatziki Recipe Ever.
• Healthy – There are three main ingredients in this recipe – full-fat, plain Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, and cucumber. Whilst the yogurt and oil are higher in calories, this recipe contains numerous beneficial nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, protein, and omega fatty acids which are vital for optimum heart, bone, and brain health.

TONY’S NOTES

“Ok, it’s not easy to describe in words something so divine tasting as Tzatziki. It belongs to the pantheon of Greek flavours and is definitely the most well-known Greek dip around the world. If you say the word Tzatziki to a Greek person or Greek cuisine lover, you will see a big smile across their face and there’s a good reason for that. So fresh tasting, so simple to make, so yummy, Tzatziki is not only just an amazing side dish but a part of the Greek identity.

My Canadian wife fell in love with it from the first bite and through combining my father’s and my mother’s personal recipes, took it to another level. It’s tastier than other Tzatzikis we eat at restaurants in Greece. Just mix a few ingredients in a bowl and that’s it – you’ve made it! You can be proud that you made the most authentic and yummy Greek Tzatziki.

Dip bread, pita bread, fried zucchini, fried eggplant, french fries, and combine with pork, beef, or lamb meat. Invite some friends and family to share this healthy dip because it’s not only the flavour that matters but the experience of sharing good food, good wine, having fun and enjoying the moments of life. Always Smile and Enjoy!”

INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEST TZATZIKI RECIPE

• 1 cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt is essentially plain yogurt that is strained to remove the whey, leaving a thick and dense consistency. Regular yogurt will not work to make Tzatziki because it is too watery.
• 1 English cucumber, peeled and shredded – Straining the water out of cucumber is the most difficult part. It’s important because you don’t want a watery tzatziki. When you think you have squeezed it all out, do it a few more times because there is more liquid than expected still. The end result will leave you with 1/2 cup of shredded cucumber. What to do with the excess cucumber water? Drink it, freeze it into ice cubes to add to a glass of water with a lemon wedge for a refreshing drink, or you can splash it on your face and give yourself a mini-spa facial. Cucumber is in many face products because it’s hydrating, moisturizing, and filled with vitamins. So not only will The Best Greek Tzatziki Recipe Ever make you happy on the inside from the flavour, but it will also keep you looking beautiful on the outside!
• 1 large clove of garlic, peeled and pressed – One large or two small cloves are sufficient for the flavour. Crushing the garlic clove in a garlic press will allow the oils to be released and integrated more into the dip. The flavour becomes more pronounced the longer it sits, which is why the Tzatziki must rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes after preparing.
• 2½ teaspoons red wine vinegar – Red wine vinegar offers the proper level of tanginess needed for the authentic flavour.
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt – This is the perfect amount of sea salt that balances out the flavours.
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil + approximately 1 teaspoon extra to drizzle on when serving – It will seem like it’s too much when you add it but trust me – all of it is needed. A good quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is equally as essential as the quantity. Your EVOO should be thick and have a golden and slightly greenish hue. Nowadays, you can find many premium quality brands of Greek EVOO in supermarkets or from online shops. When used in abundance, olive oil isn’t just about changing the texture of food, but also about adding flavour. It’s a flavour you can’t realize the importance of until you add it to see its difference. The health benefits of Greek extra virgin olive oil have been known for decades and are one of the reasons why the Mediterranean diet is world-famous for its heart-healthy and general health benefits.
• OPTIONAL – 2 tsp finely chopped fresh dill – Fresh dill adds an extra fresh taste to the dip. You will find it with and without dill in Greece. I will add it if I have it on hand, but I love it equally as much without it.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THE BEST GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE

1. Wash a large cucumber, cut off the tips, peel the skin, and shred it. Place the shredded cucumber in a sieve or a cheesecloth over a bowl and set aside for a few minutes.

2. In a separate bowl, add the Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, salt, red wine vinegar, and pressed garlic.

3. Next, with all the strength and power of Hercules, squeeze out all the moisture from the shredded cucumber. You can use your hands or a cheesecloth. The end result will be 1/2 cup of shredded cucumber and about 1/2 cup of cucumber juice.

4. Add the strained, shredded cucumber to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir. Continue stirring until the golden ribbons of extra virgin olive oil disappear.

5. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together. Serve cold with an additional drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on top. Smile and Enjoy!

WHY DOES THIS TASTE SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I’M USED TO EATING?

Unless you’ve been to Greece, you’ve probably never had real Greek Tzatziki! Real Tzatziki DOES NOT have:

• Mint – I see this in Western-based Tzatziki recipes often but it’s never done in Greece. Tzatziki should be fresh, tangy, and garlicky. Not minty or peppery. Mint is used in a lot of Greek recipes but not in this one. BUT, in Cyprus they sometimes do add fresh mint.
• Lemon juice or lemon zest – Tzatziki has a distinct tangy taste and that is from red wine vinegar.
• 1-2 spoons ONLY of extra virgin olive oil – If there isn’t enough extra virgin olive oil then you lose a significant amount of flavour and texture. Greek cooking is heavy in extra virgin olive oil. Don’t be shy to use it. It’s one of the reasons why the Mediterranean Diet is so famous for its wonderful health benefits.
• Chopped or cubbed cucumber – The reason for shredding and straining the cucumber is to make the Tzatziki as smooth as possible so it is nice and creamy.
• Low-fat yogurt – This is not a dish to experiment with to try to reduce the fat; if you reduce the fat, then it reduces the flavour and changes the texture and then this recipe is lost. It’s just not worth it. Some recipes demand fat. Like a good chocolate cake needs sugar, a real Greek Tzatziki needs fat.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BEST GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE EVER

We eat Tzatziki with many different things. It perfectly accompanies practically any main meal or meze. When you order it in a taverna in Greece, it doesn’t come with anything on the side, such as pita or vegetables. Actually, one of the few ways that Greek people don’t serve Tzatziki is as a raw vegetable dip. They will order a portion, spoon it onto their plates, and eat it with other foods. Very complimentary foods that go well with Tzatziki are:

• Grilled meals
• Seafood
• In souvlaki
• French fries
• Fried vegetables
• Grilled bread or pita
• Alongside other meze

Or you can be like me and just eat it by the spoonful!

ALLERGY INFORMATION FOR TZATZIKI

Our recipe for Tzatziki is:

• Egg-free
• Nut-free
• Peanut-free
• Wheat-free
• Soy-free
• Sesame-free
• Fish-free
• Crustacean-free
• Celery-free
• Mustard-free

STORING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TZATZIKI

Store leftover Tzatziki in an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this dish as the texture will not be pleasant.

TRY THESE DELICIOUS GREEK RECIPES NEXT!

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON TIKTOK

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

If you loved this recipe – please let us know what you think in the comments… and please share!!